Two fatalities during Christmas holiday travel period

The number of traffic deaths this Christmas holiday period is half the number it was last year. 

Two people died in traffic crashes over the Christmas holiday weekend, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, compared to four fatalities last year. 

A woman from Illinois was killed Christmas Eve in a one-car crash in rural Lawrence County, east of Joplin. 

On Saturday, a 28-year-old man from West Plains was killed in a one-vehicle crash in Howell County. 

The Highway Patrol also says 71 people were injured across the state in traffic crashes during the 3-day Christmas holiday period. 

Meanwhile, the number of people driving impaired jumped. 

Eighty-one people were arrested by State Troopers for driving while intoxicated, compared to 52 last Christmas holiday.